One of the lingering problems I faced when purchasing my 11-Inch MacBook Air was the lack of the SD slot that the 13-Inch model has. I get it, Apple needed a feature to separate the two, and for a lot of people, this was it.
Back in 2010 IK Multimedia introduced the first guitar/bass interface for iOS, iRig. Paired with Amplitube, the first amplifier & effects simulator for iOS, iRig provided a portable solution that turned iOS into a portable solution for all musicians. Since then they released the iRig HD, and now they’re back with the iRig 2, filled with improvements and new capabilities!
Henge Docks has been making Gravitas docks for some time; we’ve reviewed them, and Dan won’t part with his, no matter how much I beg. Today we got an exclusive Pre-CES look at their entire Gravitas line, their Clique Apple keyboard and Magic touchpad holder, as well as their amazing new Horizontal Dock for the 15″ MacBook Pro retina.
IK Multimedia has had a great 2014, starting with the iRig Keys Pro, then the iRig Voice, iRing, iRig Pro and more. Now they are closing out the year by jumping into the pad controller ring with iRig Pads, a fully MIDI compliant controller for iOS and the Mac with multiple connectivity options and controller configurations.
My synagogue’s executive director recently asked me to look into purchasing a conferencing device so Board members unable to attend our monthly meeting could still be part of the conversation. I’ll admit it never would have occurred to me to check out the IPEVO VX-1 Internet Conference Station were I not offered one for review. I was and am impressed.
My MacBook Pro is also my desktop. At work that means I use the laptop as a laptop. At home, however, I connect it to a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and assorted peripherals. The new Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is a great way to get all the connections I need with speed that is simply mind-blowing.
If, like me, you use an Apple MacBook Pro as your laptop and desktop, then Belkin’s new Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is for you. At $299.99, this device is a pricey but powerful docking solution for Macs and PCs; even so, its two Thunderbolt 2 ports are just the beginning of its connectivity.
There are times when the simplest of ideas can be the best. The Bluelounge Kickflip is a good example of this. The Kickflip is a small strip of plastic that lifts your Macbook and creates a more ergonomic platform for your typing. Available for both the 13″ and 15″ Macbook it is simple… And impressive.
I was thrilled when Think Tank Photo introduced their ‘My 2nd Brain’ line of bags. I love the company’s camera bags and really like the way their have applied their expertise to laptop and tablet bags. The first offerings in the line were North/South bags while their new Think Tank Photo My 2nd Brain Briefcase takes the more familiar East/West approach.
The title of this review post — MacBook Pro + iMac + Henge Docks Vertical Docking Station = Awesome — says it all. Henge Dock’s newest MacBook Pro dock is not only a thing of beauty, but it also helps turn your MacBook Pro into the best desktop ever. Available in metal or plastic, it’s a great addition to your work desk.
My “desktop computer” is actually a 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina Display that is connected to a 27″ iMac. Each time I dock the laptop I need to individually plug in a series of cables; it is a pain. Thankfully, Henge Docks is getting ready to ship a docking station specifically designed for the MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
I’ve used the Samson Meteor Microphone since first doing the review three years ago. (Read it!) I love the retro look, the ease-of-use, and quality recordings it produces. Now the company has released the Samson Meteorite. A small, USB condenser microphone, it is inexpensive, easy to use, and great if you want something more than what your computer microphone offers.
Apple released new MacBook Airs with a faster processor that are 100 bucks cheaper. If you are planning to pick one up may we suggest you consider spending the $100 you save on one a Waterfield Outback Solo for MacBook Air. With room for an Air, iPhone and wallet it’s a minimalist way to carry and protect your precious gear.
I’ve written many reviews on extended battery packs for mobile devices, but this is the first time I’ve had an external battery that was capable of charging my MacBook Air or MacBook Pro along with all my other mobile devices at the same time. Why would anyone need or want something as big and powerful as the HyperJuice? Well …
If you have an 11″ MacBook air or Chromebook, you likely take it with you more often than not. That means you need a way to keep it safe and protected. The MBA is, after all, a pricey laptop.The booq Viper hardcase case 11 is a refined but inexpensive way to protect your air; it is just $45!
When I think back on how much I spent on small amounts of slow flash storage just a few years ago, I cannot help but shake my head. Who could have imagined there would be flash drives offering 128GB of USB 3.0 storage? That, however, is exactly what you get with the new Toshiba TransMemory Pro USB 3.0 Flash Drive.
I love my 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display. Judie loves her 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display, too. We both hate the fact that the drive capacity is just 500GB. It is a constant frustration. Seagate’s new 4TB Backup Plus Fast Portable Drive is an amazing way to take 4TB with you; I wish I got this years ago.
If you are in the market for a new messenger bag, you might want to check out the booq Boa Nerve graphite messenger. This $155 bag is designed to look great but, more importantly, protect your gear and get the job done whether you are a bike messenger or not. Order now, and it ships March 1.
Beginning in mid-December, I spent four weeks traveling non-stop. It began with a trip to Israel and ended with two days in Detroit. I wish I had the Gate 8 Trifold Cabin Bag at the time. The $200 garment bag keeps clothes and toiletries organized and your laptop and tablet safe; it will make your next trip far less stressful.
My iPhone-shopping brother-in-law wrote, “I think I know the answer, but is 32GB enough capacity for normal users? I do not have tremendous amounts of data and generally don’t store much in the way of videos.” iPhone storage capacity is a potential issue, but it is one that’s easily resolved thanks to the SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive.
I visited the Cambridge Audio suite during CES 2014. I put on headphones. I listened. The sound stinked. I put a Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS USB DAC / Headphone Amp between the headphones and laptop. The sound was amazing — you might even say magical! The recording was fine. It was the laptop amp and the DacMagic that made all the difference. It turns out the audio amp on a laptop is an amazingly cheap component of most computers. It is fine for notifications and the like, but when it comes to listening to music the amps fall short. They…